Grille for automobile radiators and means for attaching the same



SAME

May 22, 1934. L. BIGREEN GRILLE FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE Filed June 9, 1931 8.!

ATTQ 5.

Patented May 22, 1934 QNETED STATES PATENT osrics GRILLE FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME Application June 9, 1931, Serial No. 543,148

3 Claims.

The present invention relating generally to ornamental and protective grilles for automobile radiators, has more particular reference to a novel means for attaching such grilles to a radiator shell.

Heretofore it has been customary to secure such grilles by means of brackets secured to the lamp support tie rod, or by studs extending through the radiator shell itself. Such means of attachment as have been utilized in the prior art have also required the presence of rubber buifers or lugs positioned between the grille frame and the radiator shell. It is the general object and nature of the present invention to provide an. attachment means which does not require the drilling of holes or the presence of exterior brackets or supports. The embodiment of the principle of my present invention possesses the further advantages in that it is extremely simple, economical to manufacture, and

is applicable to variable sizes of grilles and radiators. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a grille attached to a radiator shell by means of the device em- -bodying the principle of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of an alternative form of construction for my attachment means; Fig. 4 is a frag- -mentary section taken substantially upon line -4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the grille stud of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the manner in which the length of the cross bar is made adjustable; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of radia- 'tor shell clamping finger; and Fig. 8 is a cross section taken substantially upon the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the screen or grille 1 carried by the tubular 'frame portion 2 is adapted to be forwardly positioned and has substantially the identical contour of the radiator shell 3. The numeral 4 indicates generally the position of the radiator core. A crank opening 5 is positioned in the lower portion of the grille 1. Similarly a name plate frame 6 is placed in the upper portion of the grille l. The interior marginal flanges 7 of the name plate frame 6 are angularly inclined and serve to act as a border for the name plate 8 secured to the radiator shell 3. I

The grille attachment means consists of the cross bars 10 having the end pieces 11 suitably welded, riveted or bolted thereto. As best shown in Fig. '7, the end pieces 11 have the longitudinal flanges 12 and 13 to engage with the cross bar 10. Suitable holes 14 are for the purpose of receiving rivets or fastening screws. The exterior portion of the end pieces 11 carries the sharpened bifurcated fingers 15 which are for 7.. the purpose of being inserted upon the marginal flange 16 of the radiator shell 3.

On the end portions of the bar 10 and adjacent the end pieces 11 are the clamping sleeves 1'? which are adapted to receive the hex nuts 18 and the threaded studs 19. Directing attention to Fig. 4, the studs 19 have an inner set screw point 20 which is adapted to bear against the face of the bar 10. The outer ends of the studs 19 possess the screw driver slots 21 for the purpose 80. of tightening the studs in position upon the bar 10. The grille 1 is then placed in position with the studs 19 extending through a mesh of the screen. An acorn nut 22, a flat washer 23, and a lock Washer 24 are then fastened to the outer 35 end of the stud 19 in order to firmly secure the grille l in position.

When it is desired to utilize my attachment device in conjunction with the radiator shells which have an inwardly turned flange 9 instead v of the flat flange 16, the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is employed. In this alternative form of construction, the end pieces on the cross bar 10 carry the off-set portion 26 and the hooked portion 27 adapted to engage with the inwardly inclined flange 9 of the radiator shell 3. As shown in Fig. 3, a longitudinal slot 28 may be provided in the cross bar 10 in order that the relative position of the clamping piece 11' may be adjustably positioned thereon. In sucha construction it is necessary to use suitable fastening bolts 29.

Instead of making the clamping pieces 11 or 11 longitudinally adjustable upon the ends of the cross bars 10, it is also contemplated to terminally 05 secure the clamping pieces to the bar by means of rivets or spot welds and to make the length of the cross bar 10 itself adjustable in order to accommodate a greater range of radiator sizes. This latter expedient is accomplished by means of the 1 device best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, in which case the cross bar 10 is divided into two pieces and sleeves 30 and 31 are welded to the overlapping ends of each of the divided halves of the cross bar 10. A screw bolt 32 positioned in the longitudinal slot 33 then serves to adjustably fasten together the halves of the cross bar 10. When the last described construction is employed, it is not necessary to make the stud-carrying piece 17 slidable upon the ends of the cross bar 10. As shown in Fig. 5 such carrying piece 17 may be welded at point 34 to the bar 10, and a longitudinal slot 35 is placed in the outer face of the studcarrying piece 17 in order to allow for a slight variation of position of the stud 19 so as to insure a proper fit with the mesh of the grille 1.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a means of attachment for radiator grilles which may be readily installed or removed, is adapted for variable sizes of grilles and radiators, and does not possess the excessive weight and cumbersome features of means heretofore employed.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. Means for attaching a grille to an automobile radiator comprising the combination of a bar having fingers on each end, said fingers being adapted to engage with the marginal flanges of the shell of said radiator, and horizontally projecting studs mounted on said bar and adapted to engage with the screen portion of said grille, and means for adjusting the length of said bar.

2. Means for attaching a grille to an automobile radiator comprising the combination of a bar having fingers on each end, said fingers being adapted to engage with the marginal flanges of the shell of said radiator, and horizontally projecting studs mounted on said bar and adapted to engage with the screen portion of said grille, said projecting studs being longitudinally adjustable relative to said bar.

3. Means for attaching a grille to an automobile radiator comprising a bar having fingers on each end, said fingers being longitudinally adjustably secured to said ends and adapted to engage with the marginal flanges of the shell of said radiator.

LEE B. GREEN. 

